Exercising device



M. E. PAINTER EXERC I S I NE DEVI CE Feb. 27, 19 40.

Filed Oct 10, 1938 mE MH lNVENTU/T'. bMAU/F/E'E E FA/N TEE;

25 and Fig. is a transverse'section Patented Feb. 27, 1940 PATENT oFFicE EXERCISING DEVICE y Maurice E. Painter, Brookville, Ohio Application October 10, :1938, Serial No. 234,1l5

9 Claims.

This invention relates to an exercising device and one object of the invention is to provide such a device the operation of which will'involve the use of a large part of the muscles of the body and 6. will be easy and agreeable.v I A further object of the invention is to provide an exercising device comprising a seat supported by a resilient bar which is of such a character and n so mounted that it will have little or no tendency 1.0. to crystallize and break, and having-means operable by the occupant of. the seat 'for flexing said resilient bar.- 7 A further'object of the invention is to provide suchan exercising device which will be simple in 1 its construction and operation and of a strong durable character. l

Other objects of the invention may appear as the apparatus is described in detail.

I In the accompanying drawing Fig. l is a plan view of an exercising device .embodying'my invention; Fig.2 is a side elevation of such an exercis ing device; Fig. 3 is a rearYelevation of the same partially broken away; Fig. 4 is a detail of a head gear for use in actuating the exercising device;

line 5-5 of Fig.2. In the drawing I have illustrated'one embodiment of my invention and have shown the same as comprising a base which preferably consists which are here shown as the end portions of a transverse bar I5. Preferably both the seat and the foot rests are adjustable lengthwise of the bar and for that purpose the seat I4 'iscarried bya sleeve l6 slidably mounted on the barand secured in adjusted position-thereon by a thumb screw H. The foot rests are likewise carried by a sleeve [8 slidably mounted on the bar and secured in adjusted positions thereon by a thumb s rew [9. 1

The resilientbar is of such a, character and is somounted on the base that it will flex about a variable axis, or a plurality of axes, and will have little tendency ,to crystallize and break. In f the preferred form the forward portionv of the bar I3 is curved downwardly andf'orwardly to provide the. same with a forwardly curved portion 20 which terminates in a relatively short rear-f nn w n ln nnnnnnn nnnnnn v. .nnn' ns n nn in taken on the the forward portion .of the base. To minimize the tendency of the resilient bar to crystallize and break it is desirable that, the lower portion 2i thereof shall be tiltable about a transverse axis; To permit of such tilting action the base bar it is formed of resilient material and the front transverse member I l of the base is adapted to till; about an axis transverse-to the base bar and to the resilient barl 35. Preferably this front transverse member ll has itsfloor engaging portions 22 rounded or otherwise shaped to permit thesameto have a rocking motion on the floor. The lower portion 2i. of the resilient bar is extends across the front transverse member i! of. the base and is rigidly. secured to that member and is also secured to the resilient base bar It! at a point a short distance in the rear of the transverse'member ll. As a result of this arrangement the flexing action ofv theupper por tion of the resilient bar 13 will move the lower portion 2| thereof. about a transverse axis, thus tilting the transverse member Hand flexing the base bar -I ll, which yielda'bly resists the movement of the parts 2i and I i. Preferably the rear transversemember of the base is held against movement on the floor and-this may be conveniently accomplished by providing the same with a frictional floor engaging surface 23, such-as rubber or leather. When the device is designed for the use of adults the resilient bar, l-3 'is necessarily of heavy and relatively stifi material'and inasfmuch as the-resilient base bar must resist and limit the tilting movement of the lower portion 2| of the bar l3, and of the t-ransverse supporting member ll, the base bar should be relatively stiii so that it will offer thedesired resistanceto the movement of the other parts. Preferably this. base bar is in the formof. a downwardly facing channel, as shown in Fig.[5,'and; if desired; the flanges of the channel maybe con-, ,nected by transverse members 2 E, welded or otherwise secured thereto, to'prevent the spreading of the flanges when the basebar is flexed.

Suitable means are provided whereby the person occupying'the seat I4 may actuate the device by first flexing the seat supporting bar [3 and I then releasing thesame. In the present embodi ment of the invention two means have been pro- I vided which may beseparately usedfor flexing the seat supporting bar. One of these actuating means comprises a flexible pullgmember, here shown in the form of a flat strap'25,which may necessary strength and flexibility, such as fabric nn nn nnnnnn -ine92ntni 9ni n d be made of any suitable material which has the with the seat supporting bar I3 adjacent to the seat M, by means of an attaching device 26. It extends downwardly from the seat and through an opening 21 in the horizontal portion of the base bar H] where it passes about a guide pulley 28 supported on the base bar and extends forwardly through the channel to a point beyond the base where it passes about a pulley 29 and thence upwardly and about a pulley 30. The pulleys 29 and 30 may be supported in any suitable manner but are here shown as carried by brackets 3| and 32 mounted directly upon the curved portion 20 of the resilient bar and soarranged that the pulley 29 will be supported at a point in line with the base bar and in-front of the curved portion of the bar t3, and the pulley 32 will be supported above and in front of the curved portion 20 of the bar; The -strap extends from the pulley 30 upwardly and rearwardly above the upper portion l3 of the resilient bar, and is provided-at its upper end with hand grips 33, which are -here shown as formed on the ends of a transverse handle bar secured to the strap. The strap is of such length that the hand grips will normally be located adjacent to the foot rests and in order to grasp the same a person on the seat l4 must bend far forward. When he has grasped the hand grips he'strai'ghtens up and exerts a pull on the pull strap thereby moving the seat downwardly against the action of the resilient bar, the amount of movement thus imparted to the seat depending upon the strength ofthe pull exerted on the strap. When the seat has been depressed as far as the occupant desires, or is able, to depress it the pull on the strap. is relieved and the seat permitted to return to or above its elevated position by the inherent resiliency of the bar I3. This return movement will usually carry the seat upwardly beyond its normal position, that is, the position to which it would be moved solely by the weight of the occupant. Asthe seat reaches the upper limit of its movement and starts downwardly a second pull is exerted on the pull strap, and by repeating this operation a vertical swinging movement may be imparted to the seat. In order to initiate and maintain this swinging movement repeated pulls must be exerted on the strap and inasmuch as the upward movements of the seat and its supporting bar will cause the hand grip to return to its normal position adjacent the foot restsit will be apparent that the operation of the device involves the usev of many muscles of the torso as well as the arm and leg muscles, and the swinging movement of the seat renders the exercise pleasant and agreeable. The pull strap may be actuated by means other than the hand'grips and in Fig. 4 I have shown a head gear adapted to be connected with the pull strap 25 whereby the strap may be actuated wholly by the neck and 'body muscles without the use of the arms. As here shown, this head gear comprises a strap loop 34 adapted to extend about the head of the seat occupant and having means for connecting it with the pull strap, such as a snap .hook 35 adapted to engage a ring 36 on the pull strap. The strap loop 34 is prefer ably provided with upwardly extending straps 31 and 38 arranged to fit over the head and support the strap 34 in proper position on the head. When this head gear is used the occupant of the seat releases the hand grips'33 and uses body and'neck musc1es"to"'flex'the seat sup be connected with the resilient bar I3 at differentdistances from the end thereof to modify its action on that bar, and in Fig. 2 I have shown the bar as provided with a second device, 26a, by means of which the strap may be connected therewith.

In order to further vary the manner of operating the device a second flexible pull member 39 is provided. As here shown the pull member 39 is in the form of a cord or light cable, the intermediate portion of which is supported'by a pulley 40 connected with the resilient bar 13- adjacent the seat l4. Thetwo parts of this cable 39, on opposite sides of the pulley, extend downwardly and laterally and pass respectively about pulleys 4| secured to the rear transversemember 12 of the base onoppositesides of the base bar If]. From the pulleys M the two parts of the cable 39 extend forwardly and pass aboutpulleys 42 connected. with the front transverse member ll of the base. The end portions of the cable, beyond thepulleys- .42, arezfree to extend upwardly, as shown in Fig. 2,:and eachpart is provided at its upper end with a hand grip 43. The pull cable39 is of such a lengththat the hand grips may extend a substantial distance .beyond the foot rests .so'thatthey may-be grasped by the occupant of the seat while he is in a substantially upright position on the seatand the two parts of the .cableactuated by. the arms alone, the arrangement being such that. the arms may move above the shoulders and outwardly to, a straight position ,The cable being supported by the pulley 40 it will be obvious thatxthe two parts thereof may have longitudinal movement ,in opposite directions and that the arms of the seat occupant may move inivarious directions.

When the cable 39 and hand grips 43 are used to flex the resilient seat supporting member the pull strap 25 is idle and, if desired, it may be supported in an idle position above the bar by engaging the ring 36 with a hook 44 carried bythe sleeve '18 which supports the .foot. rests. When the pull strap 25 is used in operating the device the hand grips 43 and the end portions of the pull cable 39 may lie on the floor alongside the apparatus, or in .any other suitable operation of the apparatus by the pull straps 25;

While I have shown anddescribed one embodiment of my invention I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new'and desire to'secure by Letters Patent, isz' v 1 Y 1. In anexercising device, a base,'a resilient barmounted on the forward portion of said base and extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom, a seat secured to said bar near the free end thereofpa foot rest secured tosaid bar in said resilient bar adjacent to said seat, extending downwardly therefrom and about said guides, and then upwardly and rearwardly, and actuating means connected with the upper end of said flexible member to enable a person on said seat to exert a pull on said flexible member.

2. In an exercising device, an elongate base, a resilient bar having its forward portion bent downwardly and rearwardly and having a lower portion secured to the forward end of said base and an upper portion extending upwardly and rearwardly to a point above the rear portion of said base, a seat secured to said upper portion of said bar near-the rear end thereof, a foot rest secured to said upper portion of said bar in front of said seat, guide pulleys carried by said device adjacent to the respective ends of said base, a flexible pull member connected with the upper portion of said bar adjacent said seat, extending downwardly therefrom and about the pulleys at both ends of said base, and hand grips connected with said flexible member beyond the pulley at the forward end of said base, said flexible member being of such length that said hand grips may be grasped by a person occupying said seat and a pull exerted on said flexible member to move the rear end of the upper portion of said bar downwardly.

3. In an exercising device, a base comprising a resilient bar and transverse floor engaging members secured to the respective ends of said bar, the transverse member at the front end of said bar being tiltable about an axis transverse to said bar to permit said bar to flex, a second resilient bar having its forward portion curved downwardly and rearwardly to provide the same with a short lower portion and a relatively long upper portion, said lower portion extending across and being secured to the front transverse member of said base and being secured to the resilient bar of said base at a point spaced a short distance to the rear of said front transverse member, guide pulleys supported respectively adjacent the front and rear ends of said base, a flexible pull member connected with the upper portion of said second resilient bar near the rear end thereof and extending about said pulleys, hand grips connected with said pull member beyond the front pulley, and a seat carried by the upper portion of said second resilient member near the rear end thereof.

4.In an exercising device, a base comprising a resilient bar and transverse floor engaging members having supporting connection with the respective ends of said bar, a second resilient member having a relatively short lower portion, a longer upper portion and a forwardly curved portion connecting said lower and upper portions, said lower portion extending across and being secured to the front transverse member of said base and being secured to the resilient base bar in the rear of said front transverse member, a seat carried by the upper portion of said sec ond bar, a foot rest'carried by said upper portion I in front of said seat, pulleys supported adjacent the respective ends of said base, a flexible pull.

member connected with the upper portion of said second bar adjacent to said seat and extending about said: pulleys, and hand grips connected with said pull member and adapted to be grasped by a person on said seat, whereby a pull on said pull member will flex said secondbar, the front transverse member of said base having its floor engaging parts shaped to permit said member to tilt about an axis transverse to said base and thereby enable said resilient base 'bar to be flexed by the action of said second bar, and the rear transverse member of. said base having a frictiona1 floor engaging surface to prevent the movement of said rear member by the flexing of said base bar.

5. In an exercising device, a base, a resilient bar supported on the forward portion of said base and extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom, a seat on said bar, a foot rest onsaid bar in front of said seat, guide members at the front and rear ends of said base, a flexible pull member connected with the rear portion of, said bar, extending downwardly therefrom and about the rear guide member, then forwardly and about the front guide member, thence upwardly and rearwardly above said bar, and an actuating device connected with said pull member whereby a person on said seat may exert a pull on said pull member to flex said bar.

6. In an exercising device, a base comprising an elongate member and supporting members connected withthe respective ends of said elongate member, a resilient bar having its forward portion curved downwardly and rearwardly and secured to the forward portion of said base, a seat carried by the rear portion of said bar, a foot rest carried by said bar in front of said seat, said elongate member having an opening in therear portion thereof, a pulley supported adjacent to said opening, other pulleys supported adjacent to and in front of the curved portion of said bar, a pull member connected with the rear portion of said bar, extending through the opening in said base member and about the first mentioned pulley, then forwardly beneath the elongate member of said base and about the last mentioned pulleys and then rearwardly above said bar and a hand grip connected with said pull member.

7. In an exercising device, a base comprising an elongate member and supporting members connected with the respective ends of said elongate member, a resilient bar having its forward portion curved downwardly and rearwardly and secured to the forward portion of said base, a seat carried by the rear portion of said bar, a foot rest carried by said bar in front of said seat, said elongate member having an opening in the rear portion thereof, a pulley supported adjacent to said opening, other pulleys supported adjacent to and infront of the curved portion of said bar, a pull member connected with the rear portion of said bar, extending through the opening in said base member and about the first mentioned pulley, then forwardly beneath the elongate member of said base andabout the last mentioned pulleys and then rearwardly above said bar, and means for connecting said pulley member withthe head of a person on said seat. 8. In an exercising device, a base, a resilient bar supported on the forward portion of said base and extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom, a seat on said bar, a foot rest on said bar in front of said seat, a pulley connected with the rearportion of said bar, a pair of guide members on the rear portion of said base, asecond pair of guide members on the front portion of said base, a pull member having its intermediate portion supported on said pulley, the two parts of said pull member extending downwardly from said pulley and about the respective rear guide members and then forwardly about the respective front guide members, and hand grips connected with the ends of said pull member.

.9. In an exercising device, a base, a resilient bar supported on the forward portion of said base and extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom, a seat on saidflbar, a foot rest on said bar in front of.v said seat, guide members at the front and rear ends of, said base, a flexible pull member connected. with the rear portion of said bar, extending downwardly therefrom and about the rear guide member, then forwardly and about the front guide member, thence upwardly and rearwardly above said bar, an actuating device connected with said pull member whereby a person on said seat may exert a pull on said pull member to flex said bar, a pulley connected with the rear portion of said resilient bar, a pair of guide members on the rear portion of said base, a second pair of guide members on the front portion of said base, a second flexible pull member having its intermediate portion supported on said pulley, the two parts of said second pull member extending downwardly from said pulley and about the respective rear guide members and then forwardly and about the respective front guide members, and hand grips connected with the ends of said pull member, the two pull members being so arranged that either pull member may be used to flex said bar without interference by the other pull member.

MAURICE E. PAINTER. 

